Therapeutic device.



Patented Sept l8, I900.

A. w. STEIGERJ THERAPEUTIC DEVICE. (Application filed Nov. '22, 189% (No Model.)

Witqa EEEE NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANDREW W. STEIGEB, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

THERAPEUTIC DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent No. 658,027, dated September 18, 1900.

Application filed November 22, 1899. Serial No. 737,894. (No model.)

To all whom it Wmy concern:

Be it known that 1, ANDREW W. STEIGER, a citizen of the United States, residing'in Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Therapeutic Devices, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

My invention in therapeutic appliances relates to devices to be worn or carried about the person for developing magnetic or electric etfects for the purpose of preventing, alleviating, or curing various disorders.

From early times it has been recognized that the various manifestations of energy or disturbances of normal conditions known popularly as magnetic or electric phenomena have remedial or curative properties; and this invention consists of a combination of interchangeable devices conveniently arranged capable of use for such purposes.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of my device. Fig. 2 is a central section of the same, but with the thickness much exaggerated. Fig. 3 shows a series of my units joined.

Each unit consists of a thin ring a, of some metal other than iron or steel, as aluminium, having opposite slots 1), so that it may be suspended about the neck or other portion of the body or so a series of them may be strung on a tape 0 to form a girdle, or sometimes the units are merely carried in ones pocket. The ring a may have a raised edge d and may be milled orotherwise finished. The permanent magnet e is made of a-nearly-complete ring of steel and polarized in some convenient manner. Between the extremities of this magnet I put a keeper f, made of soft iron, so that a complete magnetic circuit may be maintained. The magnet and keeper are of the same thickness as the ring a and are fitted to the hole in the ring. The small inner cavity bounded by the ring of steel and iron is filled by a piece of metal 9 of the same thickness, but difiering from all the others, as copper. Pieces having the shape of each of the sections of the disk are composed of a variety of metals; but it is always intended to have a permanent magnet in some section thereof. All the parts are accurately fitted and forced into place by pressure alone, so as to be easily in tel-changeable to suit the case being treated.

The diiferent metals when heated by the varying temperature of the body in some disor- .has a closed circuit through its keeper, and

thusits initial forceis maintained unimpaired to aid the other sources of energy to produce the desired results.

The manner in which these devices cause their acknowledged effects is perhaps not at this time well understood; but it has been observed that if faithfully applied great and lasting benefit ensues.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent I of the United States, is

l. A therapeutic unit composed of unlike pieces of metals, fitted one within the other to form a disk, and each piece in contact with the next, one of the pieces being a permanent magnet having a metallic circuit, substantially as described.

2. In a therapeutic appliance, a series of units each consisting of a disk composed of a permanent magnet and several unlike metals in contact with each other, each unit being provided with opposite slots so a number of such units may be joined by passing a tape in one slot, along the face and out through the other slot of each unit, to form a girdle, substantially as described.

3. In a therapeutic unit, sections adapted to cause thermo and galvano electric action combined with a section that is also permanently magnetic, all being arranged to form a disk by forcing fit alone, so that the several sections of the unit may be assembled or separated, to afford ready means to adapt the unit to a particular diagnosis, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this 17th day of November, A. D. 1899.

ANDREW W. STEIGER.

Witnesses:

GEO. A. DENHAM, CHAS. B. ORooKER. 

